Hastings airport mulled

Airfield could meet needs for smaller planes as county grows

St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority officials say they are in the early talking stages of possibly creating an airport in Hastings.

"At this moment, it almost hasn't even evolved into a possibility," airport authority executive director Ed Wuellner said Thursday.

Hastings residents learned about the almost-possibility at a town meeting organized by authority officials Wednesday. The site under discussion is an 11-acre parcel about three miles south of Hastings on Hastings Boulevard.

The privately owned grassy strip is used by area pilots and is surrounded by farm land.

It could become an additional airport for light aircraft if the airport continues to grow at current estimates. First, however, residents must give their approval, say airport officials.

"We were just asked to look and see if any of this could happen, and what would be needed to make it happen. At this point, it's in the hands of the residents, not in the hands of anybody else," Wuellner said.

Even if residents give their OK, the expansion still has to go before the airport authority.

"We've never even discussed it as a board," District 3 airport authority member Wayne George said Thursday.

The authority has looked at growth estimates that indicate there will be a need for additional facilities in 10 to 12 years. With a 3,000-foot runway, the strip could be suitable for single- and twin-engine light planes.

With a 4,000-foot runway, it could accommodate a very small jet, Wuellner said.

Norman Earl, who owns the parcel, approached the authority about selling the land. A neighbor to the north, Wesley Smith, approached Earl about the land being part of an industrial development park he was considering building, said George.

Airport authority officials held the meeting to let residents know what was going on and to get their comments, George said.

One resident after the meeting said he had concerns about the airport and what it would mean to residents in the area in terms of noise and increased traffic. It's a complaint the airport has heard before.

George said what the airport authority doesn't want is to go through eminent domain again to get property for the airport. The board went that route when it needed some property in Araquay Park for an expansion at the airport north of St. Augustine on U.S. 1. The subdivision abuts the airport.

While the authority knows an expansion will be needed, it's not currently budgeted.

"We would borrow money to buy it (the land in Hastings), but we are so far away from that little discussion," George said.

An overlay map handed out at the meeting showed a possible layout including T-hangers and a fuel farm. Federal Aviation Administration requirements would go into effect if the property became a publicly owned airport.

George said property owners are meeting Monday night to discuss what they want to do.